Nord-Pas-de-Calais Geography
Nord-Pas-de-Calais climate is generally made up of cold Winters and mild Summers. There are lots of regional variations depending on local conditions and terrains.
Until the last Ice Age, the chalk-lands of northern France and southern England were not separated by the English Channel that now cuts through the Straits of Dover. At this point, a mere 19 miles now separates England from France. In the north, the region is dominated by flat lowlands, much of which is below sea level. To the south, the small hills of Avesnois and Cambrais, rarely exceeding 650 feet in height, cross the region from the southeast to the northwest.
The region is crossed by hundreds of rivers, including the Canche, Lawe, Liane and Scarpe, which are all navigable. Some of these rivers are interconnected by several canals.
Most of the region’s population is urban, but the rural areas are also densely populated
France is mostly composed of flat plains or gently rolling hills. This region is really typical of France geography on this point of view.
The following criteria are typical of Nord-Pas-de-Calais geography:
- plains, valleys
- few lakes
- flat land
- few forests
